On what sparked the shift in her career from Desperate Housewives actress to powerhouse activist, producer, and businesswoman: “I’ve always been business-minded. I worked in corporate America before becoming an actress and knew that acting wasn’t the end but a means to an end. It gave me the platform and the exposure I needed to do my philanthropic work. It also gave me the financial security to focus on my other businesses, start new businesses, and even help other people start businesses.”

On creating diversity in television and film: “What I want to do is create great content on television and movies. It is not my role to program only for Latinos, and you can’t really assume that Hispanics only want Hispanic content. They’re watching Scandal and they’re watching Cristela. But I do think that we are severely underrepresented in television and film. And instead of complaining about not seeing ourselves, we should become film producers, directors, and writers, and tell our story.”

On her diet: “I’m definitely a moderation girl, but sometimes I won’t eat sugar for three months. I’ll cut out all sugar and simple carbs that turn into sugar—rice, pasta, bread. I’m not a big carb person anyway, so it’s not that hard. I actually love fish and vegetables. I was raised on vegetables! Anything green—spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts—I crave.”

Eva Longoria shows off her rockin’ body in a form-fitting dress while leaving Ken Paves Salon on Wednesday afternoon (March 4) in West Hollywood, Calif.

The 39-year-old actress recently opened up about the importance of education in her family and how she’s considered an “underachiever.”

“When I was on Desperate Housewives, it was the number-one show in the world, and I was ranked really high [on the] Forbes list,” Eva said during her speech while accepting the Harvard University Artist of the Year Award (via People). “I said to my mom, ‘Look,’ and she said ‘Right, when are you getting your Master’s?’”

Eva Longoria takes the stage for a speech as she receives the Harvard University Artist of the Year Award from Harvard Foundation Director Dr. S. Allen Counter at Harvard University on Saturday afternoon (February 21) in Cambridge, MA.

The 39-year-old actress got extremely excited when she was given a Harvard sweatshirt after her speech.